Coat of arms of Jamaica

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Considered as a legacy from the British with slight modifications, the Jamaican Coat of Arms was granted to Jamaica in 1661 under Royal Warrant. The original was designed by William Sancroft, then Archbishop of Canterbury.

[edit] Design

The Arms show a male and female Taino (Arawak is their language), standing on either side of the shield which bears a red cross with five golden pineapples superimposed on it. The crest is a Jamaican crocodile surmounting the Royal Helmet and Mantlings. The phrase which is inscribed on the emblem is originally Latin - "Indus Uterque Serviet Uni" – and was translated to English "Out of Many, One People" in 1962.

[edit] Historical facts

In giving consideration to what might be the form of an appropriate Coat of Arms for an Independent Jamaica, both Government and the Opposition reached agreement in the following principle: the existing Arms (granted in 1661) constituted a “badge of great historical significance to the nation and should be retained”.

All the figures on the Arms represent Jamaica in different aspects: the pineapples -as the indigenous fruits, the Tainos – as the first inhabitants and the crocodile – as the indigenous reptile in the country. The use of the Royal Helmet and Mantlings is a unique distinction accorded Jamaica.

It is also stated that the original grant of arms was made in February 1662 not 1661. The latter year is an error owing to the change in 1752 from the old style of dating to the new(the New Year began on March 25 so that what was then 1661 would be 1662 to nowadays).

[edit] Changes in the Coat of Arms

The Jamaica coat of Arms has seen quite a number of changes, but only three are officially recorded. These changes occurred in 1692, 1957 and 1962 respectively.